PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE

• US 20090112930A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Anguiano, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A process of displaying program information on a viewing screen may include: providing an electronic programming guide, the electronic program guide divided into timeslots containing program information; displaying program information from the displayed timeslots on a viewing screen; providing a link to additional information, the link associated with the program information of a particular timeslot; and displaying the additional information upon receiving a user input while displaying the program information of a particular timeslot. A related system may include: a client device configured to receive and display audio-visual programs; an electronic programming guide including a link to additional information associated with the program information of a particular timeslot; and a processor configured to display program information from the displayed timeslots on a viewing screen and to display the additional information on the viewing screen upon receiving a user input while the program information of the particular timeslot is displayed.

Claims

1. A process of displaying program information on a viewing screen, the process comprising:

providing an electronic program guide, the electronic program guide divided into timeslots containing program information, the timeslots comprising;

current timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs being broadcast currently; and

future timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs scheduled for future broadcasts;

displaying program information from the displayed timeslots on a viewing screen;

providing a link to additional information, the link associated with the program information of a particular timeslot; and

displaying the additional information upon receiving a user input while displaying the program information of the particular timeslot.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises a program scheduled for future broadcast.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the additional information further comprises a link configured to set a timer for recording the program scheduled for future broadcast upon receiving a user selection of said link.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising performing a search for information associated with the link upon receiving the user input and displaying the additional information based on a result of the search.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein performing the search comprises searching the electronic program guide.

6. The process of claim 4, wherein the additional information comprises a program scheduled for future broadcast.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the additional information further comprises a link configured to set a timer for recording the program scheduled for future broadcast upon receiving a user selection of said link.

8. The process of claim 1, further comprising displaying the link to additional information on the viewing screen.

9. The process of claim 8, further comprising displaying the additional information upon receiving a user selection of the link.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein:

the link is associated with a particular timeslot selected by the user; and

the additional information linked by the link is associated with the program of the particular timeslot.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the link is included in the particular timeslot.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the additional information includes information regarding a next broadcast of a program associated with the particular timeslot.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the additional information includes a link configured to set a time for recording the next broadcast upon receiving a user selection of said link.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises a link to further information.

15. The process of claim 14, further comprising performing a search for information associated with the link to further information upon receiving a user input that selects the link and displaying the further information based on a result of the search.

16. The process of claim 14, wherein performing the search comprises searching the electronic programming guide.

17. The process of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises purchase information for an item related to a program associated with a particular timeslot selected by the user.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the item comprises at least one of a toy, a game, clothing, artwork and a physical recording medium with the video event data recorded thereon.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the purchase information comprises at least one of a link and a telephone number.

20. The process of claim 1, wherein the additional information is based at least in part on at least one of a user profile and a user preference associated with a client device including the electronic program guide.

21. A system for displaying program information on a viewing screen, the system comprising:

a client device configured to receive audio-visual programs and display the programs on a viewing screen;

an electronic program guide, the electronic program guide divided into timeslots containing program information according to the programs to be received by the client device, the timeslots comprising;

current timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs being broadcast currently; and

future timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs scheduled for future broadcasts, the electronic program guide including a link to additional information associated with the program information of a particular timeslot; and

a processor configured to display program information from the displayed timeslots on the viewing screen and to display the additional information on the viewing screen upon receiving a user input while the program information of the particular timeslot is displayed.

22. A computer-readable storage medium including instructions for:

providing an electronic program guide, the electronic program guide divided into timeslots containing program information, the timeslots comprising;

current timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs being broadcast currently; and

future timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs scheduled for future broadcasts;

displaying program information from the displayed timeslots on a viewing screen;

providing a link to additional information, the link associated with the program information of a particular timeslot; and

displaying the additional information upon receiving a user input while displaying the program information of the particular timeslot.

23. A method of providing information for display on a viewing screen, the method comprising:

providing program information corresponding to programs being broadcast currently and programs scheduled for future broadcasts;

providing additional information;

associating the additional information with the program information via a link; and

providing the additional information for display when the link is selected.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein associating the additional information with the program information comprises linking the additional information with a particular program.